Article :

 

Eco121 “Culture“ 

Olivier Ducuing

07.07.2021

 

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“ Les Etoiles du Piano “

show a worldwide ambition

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The piano competition is going upmarket this year with doubled prizes, the presence of the Picardie orchestra and a gala at Colisée-Roubaix. According to the association, this will make it one of the main events in the world of piano music. 

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Les Étoiles du Piano association is preparing the third edition of this high-flying musical competition with worldwide ambitions. "We want to position this event among the greatest international competitions", explains its president Patrick Bougamont, a former company director from Roubaix.

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The new edition, scheduled from 14 to 20 November, will take place at the Colisée in Roubaix (1700 seats) after the previous edition at the La Piscine museum, which gathered 700 people.

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But above all, the competition has doubled its prize money, which places it among the world's great competitions, insists Patrick Bougamont, with €25K in prize money, including €13.5K for the first prize. Around thirty young people aged 18 to 32 from all over the world (18 nationalities in the last edition) will be selected. The closing gala will also be accompanied this time by the Orchestre de Picardie. "We are organising a prestigious and excellent event in a booming cultural city", defends Delphine Dubreuil, director of the competition. With not only the competition itself, but also numerous actions beyond that, such as cultural mediation, the dissemination of musical culture, and above all the organisation of recitals for the winners, which are followed up on, beyond the prize.

 

Lever for outreach

The biennial event is thus intended as a lever for the international influence of the region, which is beginning to attract support from the economic world and the regional council. The association already has around thirty patrons, united in the Friends of the Piano Stars, and a club of 41 private donors. They include the Caisse d'Epargne, Norsys, Sergic, the Colam Foundation and the Caisse des Dépôts, among others. The honorary committee, chaired by Luc Doublet, also includes Blandine Mulliez (Fondation Entreprendre) and Guillaume Delbar, Mayor of Roubaix. Delphine Dubreuil intends to expand this base in the coming weeks in order to increase its power. "The challenge is to continue to expand sponsorship in order to have a sustainable vision for the association," she explains.